Saturday, May 16, 2015

This is Common’s official website. It provides information
on his latest releases and news updates. It also provides links so that you can
purchase gear, music, or tour tickets. This is the first site that is updated when
new information is provided. There are links to his social media platforms (Facebook,
Instagram, youtube, twitter, etc.) and provides news updates. This site
provides the basic information on what he is doing and how to purchase memorabilia.

This site provides a biography of Common and discusses his
transformation from a young Chicago kid to an award-winning musician and actor.
It shows a timeline of his career, reviews of his work, and provides news
updates. The site also provides photo and
video galleries.

Here is a collection of some of Common’s greatest poetry
readings with Def Jam poetry. These recitals provided artists to comment on
their situations. The artists were given
a platform to discuss many topics from institutionalized racism to faith in
god. This shows how he is active within the African American community and how
he takes stands on political issues

I find Common interesting because he is a multifaceted
artist and actor who is continuing to push himself musically and as an actor. He has not shied away from political controversy if he felt it would benefit people who do not have the voice to speak up for themselves. As a musician he has been known as “a conscious” rapper who uses music to help
empower people. The words and subjects he chooses to use help depict the plights of the ghetto. Recently, he won an Academy award and a Golden Globe award for
his song “Glory” with John Legend. The song was the theme song from the 2014
film Selma, which portrays the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. Common has not been shy to express his opinions
on political injustice or racial inequality. He appeared many times on Def Jam
poetry which gave artists the platform to address our societal flaws. He was
recently received a large amount of criticism over some of his past songs (criticisms
of George Bush and "cop-killer" lyrics) after he was invited to the White House for an “evening of
poetry.” Common has also acted in twenty-five
films and seven television programs. He
has stated that he is in pursuit of an E.G.O.T. (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony
awards) which has only been done by twelve people in acting history. This is compelling to me because it shows his
versatility as an artists. He started as
an MC/poet and he has been able to grow and develop into a producer, actor, and
role model. He is inspirational because
through his work he has been able to create a difference for the disenfranchised.

“The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.” –William Faulkner